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Our bluegrass Gospel band was asked to do a wedding and reception a few years ago. We've started the wedding processional with Canon in D, and then when the bride and her entourage began coming in...

Yes, that's what I was referring to. Gibson made some melody banjos between 1918 and 1924 but they weren't hugely popular. Vega may have also made some. The full-on mandolin banjos were more...

(Most commonly known as a "melody banjo"... Even though a 4-string, the neck, scale length and standard tuning are still that of a mandolin banjo, so I sort of consider it of the same genealogy. ...

Most of the answers here in this thread so far are remarkably objective considering this is a mandolin forum. :grin:

In answering, as someone mostly known as a banjo player, I'd just add,"Which...

I'd say that the original post question is backwards.

If it were me, I'd first decide if I never want to part with the instrument. Then it's easy to decide about authenticity vs modification. ...

Great, it's about time. Love the scr0ll!

Mine is an endoscope. Uses bluetooth to connect to a pad or phone; requires charging (permanent LI battery). It came with a 25' cable which of course is way too long, but it works fine as long as I...

My F-9 came to me with its original V-profile. My left thumb ached every time I played it, and for hours after. I put up with it for a few years, then I got my MK mandolin which has a C-profile, and...

Austin does great repair and setup work too!

I had him do a neck re-profile, speed neck, Evo re-fret and nut replacement on my F-9 in 2017 at the Grass Valley Father's Day Festival.

His...

This is a wonderful quote!

As anyone who jams regularly knows, the toughest thing is to be first in line to take a break after a new song is started. :grin:

One must learn how to listen, and...

Regarding trying to keep up with anyone playing anything, everyone is at a certain level in their playing, so there's that; yes, keep practicing.

But the other thing is what arrangement of a...

Yup, of bluegrass instruments I've played banjo, mandolin, double bass, Dobro and a tiny bit of fiddle and of guitar. People often joke about banjos and tuning, and maybe they're just more obnoxious...

If your mandolin has an adjustable bridge, that can easily be the source of the problem. In order to adjust action higher and lower without binding, the post holes for the adjusters in the saddle...

Anyone else heading out for this festival?

Our band is a Gospel bluegrass band... We respectfully avoid praise music mostly due to our tastes in religious music and the fact that we are an acoustic band -- most if not all praise bands at...

Have you compared your A style chop with the chop of other mandolins using the exact same technique? If so, what were the results?

Keep in mind, if you put the deodorized mandolin back into the case it was in, it will acquire the cigarette smell again. The case needs to also be treated, and probably more aggressively because...

For some necked stringed instruments, originality related to vintage and condition is a consideration, as is whether other work is needed on the neck...

I had a speed-neck done with my F-9, but...

So, we have a traveling pick sampler... How about a traveling mandolin sampler??? Any volunteer contributors? :grin:

If you haven't already done so, you might want to do some research on the CITES, USDA and US FWS websites about Brazilian Rosewood and the documentation that is required for an instrument containing...

It has been mentioned... Strings.

IF you want less "twang" from the higher strings, they'll need to be heavier gauge (and higher tension). Of course then they are harder to play, and they may be...

Ok, I ordered 2 of these just to see what they really are. I was curious, yes, but also wanting to try an aluminum saddle sometime in my life. I got 2 because if any part of them happened to be...

If the saddle is aluminum they might be salvageable and usable; I'd probably trim the saddle with files to reduce the string bed length and possibly adjust the compensation. I doubt that the...

Speaking as someone who has chosen to never use capos on either mandolins or banjos and has successfully pulled it off for many decades, I'd say it's your choice and there's nothing wrong with either...

It might be worth mentioning, for those who don't know what bevel they need -- or if they need one at all -- and who want a quicker answer, getting a BC-similar shaped celluloid pick and using it for...